CONTINUED joy for Stratford-on-Avon and more disappointment for Coventry & North Warwickshire was the story of Saturday's Premier Division programme.

League leaders Stratford retained their 55 points advantage with a six wicket eclipse of bottom club West Bromwich Dartmouth.

But C&NW, desperate to put daylight between themselves and the relegation slots, remain in deep trouble after going down by three wickets at Wolverhampton.

Champions-elect Stratford secured their 11th win of a marvellous campaign with another all-round display of quality bowling, fielding and batting.

West Brom saw their first six wickets topple for 104 before an unbeaten 97-run partnership between Bobby Sond (57 not) and Naqqash Tahir (44 not) lifted the tail to a respectable197-6 against a best bowling return of 3-37 from young Warwickshire paceman Elliott Wilson.

Stratford then took control through the combined efforts of Hugh Jones (37), Jim Troughton (59) and Dave Graham (57 not) to race home inside 40 overs.

Coventry got off to a highly respectable start through Keith Bell (41) and skipper Rob Hughes (33), but the batting gremlins then went to work and only Jason Pyott's 24 offered much support in a 185-7 total.

Shane Jeffers claimed 4-60 in his last outing before returning to the Caribbean but C&NW were unable to nail their hosts as Depesh Patel (42 not) and Jon Anders (40) linked in a productive stand that brought victory with more then nine overs to spare.

Improving Bedworth failed to complete a hat-trick of wins as they were beaten by eight runs in a thrilling home Division One clash against Wellington.

Mulla's 7-50 blast off 24 overs helped restrict Wellington to 162-9.

Doug Marillier (36) and Omar Choudhry (20) did Bedworth proud with a productive opening stand before the roof caved in against four-wicket men Adam Byram and Mark Downes. Hughie Caratella made 34 and Mulla again did well with 42. But seven batsmen produced only 17 runs between them.

Kenilworth Wardens and Leamington drew at Glasshouse Park.

Skipper David Barr (58), Sitanshu Kotak (39) and Paul Henderson (73) did best in an impressive 235-6 Wardens total against a 3-48 return from Aussie Tony Bristow.

Leamington then batted with little discipline and it was left to skipper Wayne Larkins (73) and highly talented Sandy Allen (40) to save the day at a closing 164-9. Kotak took 5-59 and Ford (4-38).

Attock remain strong favourites to land the Division Two East crown after crushing Highway by 109 runs.

Darren Bulpitt's effective 6-71 offering restricted the visitors to 176-7 but Highway's batting was not nearly so damaging as they were hustled out for 67.